June Photo a Day 9

Day 9: Your View Today



I spent most of today sewing a pretty dress. I can't wait to finish it off!

DIY Pillowcase Bicycle Basket Liner!

I bought this pretty old sheet and pillowcase set a while ago on etsy. It’s so bright and happy. Practically made of sunshine. And it always reminded me of my bike. They’re both blue and yellow and a little old and faded. I'm planning on using the sheet to make a pretty summer dress!



Jack bought this lovely basket for me last year. While I love the sweet pink material, it’s getting a bit faded. I decided it was time for an upgrade! Perfect use for my pretty pillowcase!



Here’s what you need:

One pillowcase
A bicycle basket
A sewing machine
An overlocker if you have one
Scissors
Thread
Ruler
Iron

Begin by ripping your pillowcase apart, into one big piece of fabric. Place your basket on top of the fabric and trace around it onto the material. Of course, you could be a pro and use proper paper, but I’m a bit lazy. Cut your shape out. You won’t need to leave any extra fabric for seam allowance, as you traced around the outside of the basket, which is obviously a bit bigger than the inside. Next you will have to measure the sides of your basket. Begin by measuring around the top rim of your basket, from one side to the other. Mine was 55cm. Then measure the height of your basket. Mine was 25cm. Next, measure the bottom of your basket, from one side to the other. Mine was around 44cm. Add around 10cm to the height of your basket (mine becomes 35cm) and draw up the shape using your ruler. Leaving a few centimeters for seam allowance, cut out two of your side shapes.

You should have three shapes that look a bit like this:



You will then have to snip a wedge out of each the top hand corners of the side pieces. This is to allow room for your handles! Simply draw a straight line down, around 3cm from the top corner of your piece.



If you have an overlocker, serge down each side of your side pieces. Then, with the right sides facing each other, sew down the two edges. Do not sew the top parts where you snipped off the triangle.

Now you will have to pin your bottom piece to the bottom edges of your side pieces. Once they have been pinned in place, sew all along the edges. I went round with my overlocker as well.


Next, you should fold out the edges of the liner, in the top triangles where your basket handles will go. Press them down using your iron.

Now move on to the top of your liner. Fold the raw edge over once, leaving a very small amount of fabric. Then fold it over once more, leaving more room – approximately 2cm. Sew along the edge. This is where you will pop your drawstring!

You could use a pretty ribbon for the drawstring, but I chose to use the same fabric as the rest of the liner. Cut two pieces of fabric approximately 6cm by 80cm. Fold the right fabric in half, with the right sides facing each other. Sew down the edge, then turn the long strip out the right way. This is a little bit tricky and you will need a paintbrush or pencil to push it through.

Using a big safety pin, thread both of your strips through the tops of your liner. Pop the liner in your basket, tie it up at the sides, and you’re good to go!

YAY!!







xoxox

busy busy!

I am so busy busy at the moment! I'm constantly wishing I had a little more time on my hands. If I did have a little more time, I would love to attempt to recreate some of these pretties! This Wheels and Doll Baby dress is perfection and i just adore these sweet little bow ties!

DIY iPod Pouch!

Not so long ago, I got myself a new iPod. I needed something to keep it in, so I made this little pouch from some old teal fabric. Of course this is a super easy little project, which took me less than half an hour to complete. I think that the white piping along the edges makes it a little more special than your average drawstring bag! Ha



Here’s what you need:

- fabric of your choice for the bag itself
- fabric of your choice for the piping
- scissors
- thread
- a zipper presser foot for your sewing machine
- a sewing machine
- ribbon
- twine – I used hay bale twine as it’s nice to put something to use that is only going to be thrown out. Any old string should be fine.

First of all, begin by making your piping! You will need approximately 75cm of string and a long strip of your piping fabric – around 75cm by 3cm should do the trick. Place the string in the middle of the fabric, length ways, and fold the fabric over.



Using your zipper presser foot, sew down the fabric, as close to the string as possible.



Now cut out the fabric for the actual pouch. You will need two rectangles approximately 16cm by 11cm. Round off the bottom corners of each piece.

Place the two pieces of fabric together, with the right sides facing each other. Take your piping and insert it between the two pieces of fabric, along the edges of the bottom and two sides. Pin all three together. Now, still using your zipper foot, sew along the edges, as close to the piping as possible. It might be a little fiddly around the rounded edges. Turn it the right way out to check that the piping is sitting smoothly.

Cut out a strip of fabric around 20cm by 5cm. Turn your bag back inside out. Pin the strip around the top of the bag, with the beginning and ending of the strip at the front of the pouch. Pin the excess fabric back the other way and sew around the top.




Turn your bag the right way out, then flip the strip on top over so it’s on the outside. Fold the very bottom of the strip under and then poke your piping under too. Sew all around the bottom. Thread your ribbon around the top, tie it in a bow, and you’re done!

Too cute.

to market to market

Eep I am getting a little excited for my stall at the North Melbourne Market this weekend! If you're in the area, pop on down and say hello! I'll be selling lots of pretty dresses, tops and skirts; as well as heaps of cute badges and hair accessories!

North Melbourne Market

Today we popped down to the North Melbourne Market, where they were having a ‘special designer event’ for Spring. There were so many beautiful things! It made me extra nervous and excited for my own stall, which I will be holding there next month! Time to get busy busy sewing like a beetle!

I have lots of new pretties which need to go up on the etsy shop! Little Siena is in Queensland at the moment, so as soon as she gets back we’ll be taking lots of photos and updating the store.

xxo

New Lovelies

Hooray, I have lots of pretty new vintage and recycled fabrics! I can't wait until the soaking/washing process is over, so I can get sewing! I love finding great pre-loved fabrics. Putting something old to use again - turning it into something special - is probably my favourite part about making dresses!



And in other news... I'm all booked in for my first market stall! I will be at the North Melbourne Market in October! It's not for a while, but I have lots of preparations to make! Exciting!

xox

Etsy Love

Hooray! My little etsy shop is up and ready and good to go! It's mostly sizes smalls and extra smalls at the moment, but i have more mediums and larges to come!

www.sallysaidhandmade.etsy.com

xox

Coming Soon!

Eeep! Yesterday, little Siena helped me take photos of some of my handmade dresses. Hopefully my little etsy store will be up and running by tomorrow!

xxo

sew darn sweet

For my birthday a few months ago, my darlin’ little sister put together the sweetest present for me! She collected all kinds of sewing necessities and made me a little sewing kit!



She got this old second-hand basket and lined it with doilies! Then she sewed a little piece of embroidery to the top! So pretty.



She filled it with all kinds of sewing things. But my favourites are the little salt and pepper pin cushions!



This is such a great idea! All you need is the prettiest salt and pepper shakers you can find, and some cotton wool or stuffing. Take the bottoms off the shakers and stuff as much wool as possible through the holes. Squish it in nice and tight so the pins will stand up.



The shakers can hold quite a lot of pins and are a great way to put something old to use again, especially as no one uses salt and pepper shakers anymore!